The terrestrial small mammal community of the Zakouma National Park (Chad) was assessed by live trapping in various habitats during the dry season. Nearly 3000 trap-nights yielded 505 captures of nine rodent and two shrew species, making up a representative small mammal community for the Sudanian savanna biotic zone. Murine rodents of the genus Mastomys dominated, with M. erythroleucus and M. cf. kollman- nspergeri occuring at similar abundances. The former was widespread and especially abundant in habitats with high tree cover. The latter was more localized, predominantly in annually flooded habitats characterized by a clay-rich soil, often with Acacia seyal as the main vegetation. Population structure differed between the two species, suggesting distinct reproductive strategies possibly linked with habitat preferences: the M. erythroleucus population comprised mainly young, immature individuals, whereas M. cf. kollmannspergeri was represented by older individuals, a significant fraction of which had already reproduced. Taterillus congicus and Tatera kempi (gerbilline rodents), togetjier with Lemniscomys zebra, were mainly found in more open habitats with sand-rich soils. Arvicanthis niloticus, Acomys cf. johannis, Mus mattheyi and Xerus erythropus were the other rodents captured, whereas shrews were represented by Crocidura fulvastra and Suncus sp.
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